Does Alternative Power Require an Alternative Shifter?
Recently we’ve seen some changes, such as gated or notched selectors. But nothing compares to what’s going on with shifter designs in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Since the selectors in many alternative fuel vehicles are drive-by-wire — where there is no physical connection between the shifter and the transmission — automakers have been able to get a bit more creative with their placement, shift patterns and design. We compared the designs of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Toyota Prius, Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt.
Continuing reading to find out how each one works.
Toyota Prius: Probably the most ubiquitous at this point, the Prius uses a design akin to a joystick. You move the selector to the left to place the car in Neutral and up from there to put the car in Reverse or down for Drive. Once you select a mode, the shifter will return to its original position, which is in its own gate away from the drive selections. You can shift the Prius down in this gate to select “B,” which is engine braking, which acts like downshifting the continuously variable automatic transmission.
There are three additional driving mode buttons on the center console near the shifter: EV, Eco and Power. The P button near the selector is how you put the Prius into Park. An emergency brake pedal is on the left side of the driver’s well.
Chevrolet Volt: The Volt has a very large shifter, mounted flush with the center console. The “flush” position places the Volt in Park; as you shift the lever down you will go through “R,” “N,” “D” and “L.” “L” acts like a version of the “B” mode found on the Toyota Prius, Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. There are no indicating symbols for the selected drive on the shifter, the information is only available on the driver’s LCD screen gauge cluster. There are selectable drive mode buttons on the center console: Normal, Sport and Mountain. An emergency parking brake toggle switch is on the right side of the center console, near the drive selector. The fat shifter design may have changed recently as the production model gets ready for sale, but GM has not confirmed any alterations.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV: The Mitsubishi i-MiEV has the most conventional gearshift pattern out of the bunch, probably because there is a gasoline version of the car. The transmission has a normal PRND setup with an Eco and B mode toward the bottom. Eco mode provides more engine braking, while B mode provides even more engine braking like the other hybrids and electric cars in the category. The emergency brake is a normal lift lever.
Nissan Leaf: The Leaf’s shifter acts like a giant pivot ball. You move the shifter over and then up for Reverse and down for Drive. If you let go, the shifter will go back to its neutral position but maintain the last selected “gear.” If the car is in Drive, pushing back to D will actually enable the B engine-braking function. Pushing the center P button will engage the electronic Park. The far-back handle will engage the emergency parking brake. The shifter is supposed to be controlled with your palm and not with your fingers, which might take some getting used to.
